Bobbin replenishing means for looms



Jan. 22, 1957 w. H. BANKS 2,778,382

BOBBIN REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1A TTORNE Y Jan. 22, 1957 w. H. BANKS 2,778,382

BOBBIN REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LooMs Filed Aug. 17; 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR. WQLDO i-4 BnNKs A TTORNE Y Jan. 22, 1957 w. H. BANKS BoBBINREPLENISHING MEANS FOR Looms Filed Aug. 1'7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L KINVENTOR. WaLDo H. BHNKS oo n A TTORNE Y United States Patent BOBBINREPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, Mass., assignorto Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of MaineAppiication August 17, 1955, Serial No. 528,928 17 Craims. (ci. 139-245)This invention relates to looms for weaving, and, more particularly, tomechanism for supplying filling packages to the battery and replenishingmeans in such looms.

It is a general object of the invention to device filling replenishingmeans for looms which shall save considerable labor heretoforeconsidered necessary to the production of fabric.

lt is a more specific object of the invention to devise effective andsimple means which shall function without power to maintain a supply offilling packages in the battery of a loom and by which the laborincidental to maintaining a supply of filling in the loom may be greatlydiminished.

A further object `is that of maintaining said supply for a very extendedperiod of time and entirely automatically, once a full container offilling packages has been placed on the loom.

It is a further object to improve such means in a manner to require nopower and to take all indications from the filling package at theentrance end of the battery thereby doing away with all need forconnecting linkages to the bobbin transfer mechanism or to otherpositively operated parts of the loom.

It is a further object to devise means for the purpose which shallfunction under the influence of gravity, once a container of fillingpackages has been placed in position and further, which shall functionwith a plurality of .containers, a second of which moves into positionas the first becomes exhausted, whereupon the first moves out of the wayand is retired to an inactive position.

Anotiher object of the invention is `that of devising mechanism of thetype described which shall be inexpensive, easily incorporated in newlooms and applied as an attachment to old looms, and which shall berelatively trouble free over a long period of use.

Other objects will be apparent from the following disclosure. i

Most automatic looms function with a rotary or other battery from whichfilling wound lon bobbins is transferred to the shuttle. The supply ofbobbins in a battery is not great, usually numbering from twenty tothirty, and each must be put into the battery by an attendant Whoinserts each bobbin individually. To do that he has to get a supply ofbobbins wound with the required filling, take them in a truck or `othercarrier and going about the looms, insert bobbins before any batterybecomes empty by pulling ofir the thread end, pushing the bobbin intoplace and wrapping the end about a knob or in some way making it fast inwhatever end holding means is provided. v

This matter of maintaining a supply of filling in the loom batteriesthus involves considerable labor which represents a `definite andappreciable proportion of the cost of the woven goods being produced. Itvaries for different types of goods woven and can become rather highWhere the loom runs only a matter of seconds between flling transfers.It has been desired tov provide "ice labor saving means for the purposeby which an appreciable saving can be realized.

Several mechanisms have been suggested for use with automatic, flyshuttle looms for supplying the battery of the loom with filling.Usually these have been applicable to rotary batteries, have beenexceedingly complicated and expensive, and have come int-o no commercialuse for obvious reasons. The initial cost of such means cannot be highand if the mechanism is complicated and interconnected for timing andactuation by or through the replenishing means, added loads are thrownon those critical parts and the functioning of the loom adverselyaffected so that its eiciency is lowered.

While some simple schemes have been attempted, they have 4involved nomore than feeding hoppers applied to a loom battery with insufficientcontrol to render them reliable or efficient in practice.

According to the present invention, a combined lgravity and vibrationalfeed means utilizing an inclined track and compartmented container ormagazine makes possible the supplying of a very large number yof fillingbobbins to the loom directly from the spinning, winding, treating lorother department, and the feeding of those bobbins to a battery andtransfer means at the loom without special control timed from thefilling transfer means. However, the battery is kept supplied with areserve of bobbins so that one shall always be in the transfer position.

Preferably, the battery and transfer mechanism are of the type to handlebobbins on which lling packages are formed with the end wound into anding bunch as shown in United States Patent No. 2,558,198. The batterymay be of the general class illustrated in United States Patent No.2,566,880 in which-bobbins prepared as above men tioned are introducedand from which they may be transferred to the shuttle with the fillingend held and disposed of as described.

The bobbin container is, in effect, formed into vertical compartmentsand vertical rows of bobbins are held in place by a retaining means atthe lower end of each row and such a container when placed `on theinclined track is moved or will move to a position in which its firstrow of'bobbins aligns with the entrance to the battery and is there heldby a stop means. means arrests the travel of the magazine in itsmovement -down the track, other means affects the retaining meansfoi-'that row only to permit its bobbins to descend by gravity into thebattery.

The magazine will remain inits position until all bobbins have beenexhausted from the particular row being used and until the batteryitself has become empty of bobbins at its entrance end, for example, twoor three bobbinsrpositioned at that point. There a bobbin feeier memberis released and by a counterweight or other ap- 4 propriate means, actsto release the stop from holding t re magazine, thus permitting it toslide along until the nei-1t succeedingly row or compartment is nearlyaiigned with the battery entrance. At that time the row of bobbins isreleased and just as soon as a bobbin or two have entered the batterythe stop means is interposed in the path of the magazine. This procedureis repeated until the entire magazine becomes exhausted.

The track may be long enough to accommodate two lor more magazines-sothat as one is exhausted, the next immediately moves to feedingposition, while the exhausted one is returned to a position to be takenaway later. times continuous production is assured, yet the need forfrequent refilling of the conventional rotary or other battery by bobbinboys is no longer necessary. The iarger magazines constitute aconvenient means for transporting bobbins and,'ini`nstances, may even beused tor present' the'filling to steam or other treatments. By theinstant At the same time the stop Thus by keeping a full magazine inpiace at all system the bobbins a-re subjected to less handling,friction, tumbling, etc., so that the effectiveness of the entireweaving process is improved.

The invention will be described by reference to a preferred embodimentthereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the invention applied fto a loom.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of parts of the invent-ion 4at the batteryentrance.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section at line fil-fi, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the ent-ire track and control means.

Fig. 6 is a plan view ofa bobbin magazine.

Fig. 7 is a detail View of one part of that magazine.

Fig. 8 is a section at line ii-l Fig. 7.

Now referring to Figs. l and 5, the invention is shown applied to a loomonly a small portion of which is illustrated. The right hand or side atwhich replenishing is accomplished has attached to it by severalbrackets an inclined track which includes a forwardly inclined part, alaterally inclined and then a rearwardly sloping portion. The rails l@and ll extend forwardly -and downwardly, rail lil being considerablylonger than rail 1l. for reasons which will appear later. Rails l2 andi3 extend to the rear and downwardly in that direction, while bars 14and TLS slope laterally. Flhe rails it), ll, 12 and 13 are in the formof angle irons, either standard shapes or fabricated sections, and maypreferably be provided at their horizontal bearing surfaces with a fiberor other facing so that a container or magazine generally indicated `bynumeral ld will slide thereon when the loom 'is running. The crosssupports 14 and l5 are preferably rods of circular section, but, ofcourse, the structural details may vary widely without departing fromthe general inventive concept.

These track members are supported at several points. At the top ofloomside f7 and at a part 1S of the arch structure there is attached abracket 19 which continues rearwardly to form a side member 2t) of abattery. This bracket and battery support the longest rail l0 which isalso braced at its rear end by a strut 2l connected at its lower end tothe loomside adjacent the beam support. The bracket i9 extends laterallyat 22 to support the front end of the tracks and attaches at about themiddle of a front stop bar 23.

Rail lll is connected to rail iti by a number of crossbars 24, 2.5, 26,27 and 28, this last being connected by a Stringer 29 to the stop member23. While 'these rails and crossbars may be fixed together in anysuitable manner, they are preferably welded.

The rails l2 and 13 are attached at their forward ends to stop bar 23and are spaced by crossbars 30, 31, 32 and 33. The rails 1l and l2 aretied together along their length to be maintained in proper angularposition by vertical struts 34, 35 and 36. Outer rail 13 sustained by abrace 37 extending down to motor bracket 3S, or to some other rigid partof the loom structure.

The space between the vertical side members of the angle irons betweenwhich the lling container 16 slides is sufficient to permit the latterto pass with reasonable clearance and at the rear a plate 39 aids inpositioning a full magazine. For that purpose the ends of that track areslightly divergent.

The replenishing means at the loom may be of any type which can be fedby a discharge of bobbins to it by gravity and which has the capabilityof handling bobbins wound with a tip finder bunch as inthe Fiset et al.,patent to which reference is made. Here it is not 4necessary todescribe such a battery in detail, but referring to Figs. 1 4, onebattery in use comprises an inclined' chute formed by guides 4t) and 41which are vertically disposed to form a divergent entrance. Here thisentrance is directly below -the level of the track and in a position tocooperate 4 with container 16 in a manner to be described. At its lowerfront end the battery presents the leading bobbin for action by thetransfer hammer 42, Fig. l, by which, at the proper time, it istransferred to the shuttle 43, ejecting an exhausted bobbin in the usualway.

As can be seen, this particular battery accommodates nine bobbins of onesize, but if different `diameters of packages are used, more or fewerbobbins are involved; however, there are always enough in the battery sothat considerable time is available to replace an exhausted containerwithout the loom 'stopping for lack of filling.

At the battery entrance it is desired that bobbins be guided so theypass close to the front inner surface of the guide 40. For that purposea plate 44 is pivoted at 45 and is maintained in an adjusted position byscrew t6 locked by nut 57. At the outer end of the battery entrance anadjustable screw 48 is locked in position to limit the space throughwhich the bobbin tips may pass. This will prevent a bobbin butt frompassing and thus prevent a bobbin getting into the battery in reversedpo'sition if somehow the magazine should be loaded irnproperly.

Now referring to Figs. l, 6, 7 and 8, the bobbin magazine generallydenoted by numeral lr6 may be fabricated by welding structural shapeseasily obtained, or may be formed in various ways from metal, plastic,fiber or other materials. Preferably, it is spot welded using sidepieces i9 and 50 and Ve'nds 5l and "5?. in the form of angle irons atthe to'p and cl'iann'els :53 and 54 for sides at the bottom along withend angle sections S5 and These are wrapped around slightly at thecorners and welded and are then formed into a box-like structure bywelding to upright or corner pieces 'which are preferably of anglesection, see parts S7, 5S, S9 and 6i?, Figs. l and 6.

Bobbins B Vare maintained in independent, vertical columns and thus'themagazine is in effect compartmented bythe channels '61 and 62 welded orotherwise fixed in vertical position. The channels 61 are wide enough totake the butts of the largest bobbins contemplated to be used while theopposed channels 762 receive the bobbin tips. Of course, a unit ispreferably built for a particular size of bobbin and for a specific typeand size of loom, but bobbins slightly `smaller than the maximum sizeaccommodated may be substituted without any practical difliculty.

The magazine -is open at 'top and bottom although a cover may be used toprotect the filling supplies from dirt and lint. Each row of bobbins isheld in place by a rod 63, Fig. 8, normally llying at the lower end of aslot 64 in the side member r5l and also in a similar slot in theopposite side channel 53. When a rod is moved to the upper end of itsslots as will be described, that particular row of bobbins is permittedto fall into the battery as needed.

The angle at which the track is set (about 5) is such that when the loomis running vibration of the parts causes the container to move down thetrack with continuous although not fast progress, except at such timesas it yis latched or stopped in position. This slow movement makes itVpossible for the stopping and releasing parts to work under action ofthe bobbins in the battery entrance without danger of overtravel, etc.

At the =track adjacent the entrance of the battery a means Vis providedto control the advance of the magazine and releasel of Vbobbins in it.At the rail 10 a latch 65 having a hu/b 66 and a depending cam engagingsurface 67 is pivoted on a stud 63. The latching surface, as shown inFigs. -2 and 4, may be elevated enough to act as a stop against whichthe front edge 69 of each channel 61,'Figs. 7 and 8, may engage. Therearwardly positioned or opposite side of each of these channels is cutaway as is a part ofthe central web to avoid interference with rod 63and slots `64 and also to assure that the latch 65 may engage orily'theAfront of each channel member. The

arvsaa front, lower box member 55 is cut out or notched las shown sothat part of the magazine may clear the latch.

This latch is controlled by a cam 70 fixed to one end of a spindle 71borne in guide 40 and in a second bearing at a central web 72 of thebattery. Intermediate these a flat plate 73 is fixed to the spindle andacts as a feeler to sense the presence of a bobbin at the entrance ofthe battery. The cam and feeler are counterbalanced by a weight 74 atthe end of arm 75 iixed to the outer end of spindle 71 so that the partsnormally move to the dotand-dash line position, Fig. 4, if no bobbin isin position to press the feeler to the full line position. Thecounterweight is adjustable for different weights of bobbin and filling,but while it quickly rocks the parts to permit the cam to let the latchfall, a bobbin o-n the feeler should easily raise the latch. The front,inner face of the battery is recessed as shown, Fig. 4, to let thefeeler enter it so the filling package may be guided by the entirebattery surface insofar as possible. Adjustable plate 44 assures that,nok matter what diameter of package is used, the latch is always raisedto the same position.

As the magazine is advanced, bobbins are released, one compartment afteranother, by action of the adjustable lugs 76 and 77 fixed to rails 10and 11, respectively. These are slotted and clamped in any adjustedposition by bolts passing `through their slot and the rail. Each has aninclined surface 7S and a top, more or less horizontally disposedsurface 79. In action, as the magazine is moved down its track, a rod63, each end of which extends about an inch or so beyond the magazine,is cammed up and back toward the high end of its guide slots 64 until itrides upon the top surfaces 79 of the lugs. Proper adjustment shouldpermit a rod to rest on these .surfaces 79 when the magazine is held instopped position and when the rod is about at the end of its slots 64.Of course, displacement of a rod allows the bobbins of that row orcompartment to fall and till the battery.

When a bobbin is no longer resting on the feeler 73 it rises and permitsthe latch to fall so that the magazine moves forwardly to the next row;of course, the rod for that row is moved aside and the bobbins from thatrow feed into the battery. This continues, row by row, until the entiremagazine is exhausted whereupon it will be released to move down thetrack and to be retired to the second track. A guard S0 at the inside ofrail 10 assures that the magazine moves forwardly in a straight pathwayuntil it becomes exhausted and moves beyond rail 11. Then it no longerhas support at its right side and falls onto the cross bars 14 and 15.Prior to that it is in contact with a short track member 81 at its frontend so that it cannot tip. However, as soon .as rail 11 offers nosupport the weight of the magazine over-balances it toward the side andthe magazine lower side member 54 is lifted to clear guard 80 so it canslide down bars 14 and 15 until it registers or aligns with rails 12Aand 13. It then moves slowly to the lower or rear end of that track tobe removed when it is convenient to do so.

The track extends to the front far enough so there is clearance for amagazine to fall from rail 11 and still move a little farther beforestopping against the end member 23. This permits the -magazine to becomemisaligned a little, yet clear the end of rail 11 so as to start downthe cross feed.

Bar 14 of the cross feed is positioned so that when the magazine reachesstop 23 or starts down the cross feed, it will rest with the majority ofits weight to the rear of the bar. When it has moved off bar 15 it willthen start rearwardly down the lower track -to the retirement position.The bars 14 and 15 are preferably of non-corroding material and therails may be although it is easier to apply strips or sliders to theseparts, e. g., strips of Teflon or the like, impregnated with graphite.

To review the operation, it is better to start with a full batterysincewith the inclination of the battery employed, there is danger thata bobbin will become misaligned in 6 rolling all the way down thebattery chute. A magazine is then placed on the track to be guided downrails 10 and 11 and may be pushed'all the way down to be stopped infeeding position by the latch 65. The magazine may be pushed down tofeeding position manually or, since the loom will run for severalminuteson lilling in even a partially filled battery, may be set on the top endof the track and permitted to move' down itself.

After such initial starting of the mechanism, the magazine will move onerow at a time as feeler '73 is released permitting latch 65 to drop.Under automatic operation,

. the inclination of the track along with natural vibration of the loomis just enough to advance the magazine slowly so that there will beample time for the latch to be set again as the battery is filled and tocatch on the next edge 69 of a succeeding channel 61.

This cycle continues until all bobbins have been exhausted and themagazine is freed to pass forwardly onto crossbars 14 and 15. It isintended that a second magazine shall always be in position behind thatfeeding and thus the second will move to feeding position as theexhausted one is retired. The margin of two or three bobbins to betransferred before feeler 73 can release the magazine merely means thata magazine or compartment therein becomes empty and the device does notadvance until two or three bobbins have been transferred. However, thereare enough bobbins in the battery so that considerable time is availableto bring a full magazine into place without the loom stopping due tolack of filling. When the second magazine is in place behind thatfeeding, it moves forwardly just as soon as the rst is released to beretired. The change-over then becomes entirely automatic.

If the loom has an amount of filling sucient to run for a few minutes,it is not necessary to push a magazine into position to release thefirst row of bobbins, since it may be placed on the track and will movedown to proper position itself.

In timing, the lugs 76 and 77 affect rod 63 to release a row of bobbinswhen the magazine has a short distance more to go before stop latch 65is contacted. That gives time for the feeler to raise the latch beforethe magazine moves too far to be caught by i-t.

After a magazine becomes exhausted and the latch releases it, it slidesfurther toward the front and its right side (as seen from the front ofthe loom) becomes unsupported by rail 11. Instead of being supported byrail 10, short track member 81 and the end of rail 11, it falls to rods14 and 15. In so doing the left side is raised and is no longer guidedby guard 80 so that it slides to the side until stopped by rail 13. Itthen slowly moves to the rear on rails 12 and 13 to be removed when atthe operators convenience.

To provide for smooth flow of bobbins from the magazine and to preventany interference at the track, the latter is bevel'led at 32 and 83,Fig. 3. rl'hus the magazine may be displaced slightly and the bobbinswill still fall from it to ythe battery without tipping or catching.

The term bobbins has been used since filling is most frequently wound onpirns or bobbins, but it is to be understood that the term is broadlyused that it includes all packages of filling no matter how wound.

yThe magazine may vary in size Within rather wide limits, but one usedin a practical installation has eight rows of bobbins in each row ofwhich there may be about twelve bobbins. For many mills this means thattwo magazines will run from two hours to a day, thus the bobbin boyswork involves putting a full magazine on the track from perhaps everyhour at the most to once in a half day, although he may let a loom gotwice that long. The work of placing the magazine involves much lesstime than is needed to ll la part of the conventional battery to which`the employee must return after not over about twenty bobbins are used.The term compartment refers to Athe space within which each row ofbobbins is held and it does not imply that the space -is necessarilyClosed oit" completely fromthose adjacent.

The inclination of the tracks is preferably such that each will permitthe magazine to move downwardly at a slow rate so long as vibration ispresent. Usually the vibration is that of the loom itself, but it may bethat induced by adjacent looms or by other means. Depending upon theamount of vibration present in any installation, the angle or" the trackmayva-ry, but ithas been found that a slope of 5 functions positivelyenough `and not too fast.

While one embodiment yof the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood ythat the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofWays. This Ainvention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, -but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention `andthe scope of the claims.

I claim:

l` In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by vgravity along said track and stopmeans at the track for engaging said partitioned container to stop it soits compartments align with the battery as successive compartmentsbecome empty, and means responsive to the presence of a iilling packageat the entrance portion of said battery for controlling the said stopmeans.

2. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said -battery which comprises an inclined supporting track,a partitioned container movable by gravity along said track and stopmeans at the track for engaging parts of said partitioned container forreleasing it to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment aligns with said battery, and means responsive tofilling at the battery entrance for controlling said stop means.

3. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a

battery for holding a plurality of filling packages from which the loomshuttle is periodically replenished, means for automatically supplyinglling packages to said battery which comprises an inclined supportingtrack, a

partitioned container movable by gravity along said track and stop meansat the track for engaging parts of the partitions of said container andmeans for controlling Said stop means from the lling packages in saidbattery to release the container so it may move whenever iilling becomesexhausted from a compartment, and for stopping the container with thenext succeeding compartment aligned with the battery.

4. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track and a pivoteddetent at the track and in the pathway of the container for engagingparts of the partitions thereof, and means controlled by the absence ofiilling packages at the entrance of said battery for withdrawing saiddetent as a compartment becomes exhausted of filling, and forimmediately interposing it in position to Stop said container with thenext succeeding compartment in position to feed its filling packages tothe battery.

5. In combination with a loom yhaving a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of iilling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track and a pivoteddetent at the track and in the pathway of the container for engagingparts of the partitions thereof, and means controlled by the absence offilling packages at the entrance of said battery for withdrawing saiddetent as a compartment becomes exhausted Of filling, and forimmediately interposing it in position 'to stop said container with thenext succeeding compartment in position to feed its filling packages tothe battery, means at the lower end of each compartment for retainingthe filling supplies therein, and trip means carried by said track. formoving said retaining means to release the filling supplies in thatcompartment aligned with the battery as the container reaches a feedingposition.

6. in combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track, means at thelower end of each compartment for retaining iilling supplies therein,stop means lat the track for engaging parts of said partitionedcontainer for releasing it to permit it to move along said track as acompartment becomes empty and to stop the container in a position sothat its next succeeding compartment shall align with said battery,other means effective upon said means at the lower end of thatcompartment for releasing the filling supplies therein, and a fillingsupply actuated member at the entrance end of said battery forcontrolling said stop means.

7. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track, means at thelower end of each compartment for retaining filling supplies therein,stop means at Ithe track for engaging parts of said partitionedcontainer for releasing it to permit it to move along said track as acompartment becomes empty and to stop the container in a position sothat its next succeeding compartment shall align with said battery,other means effective upon said means at the lower end of thatcompartment for releasing the filling supplies therein, a rod for eachcompartment held at each end in an inclined slot in the container sidemembers for retaining the filling supplies in that compartrnent, stopmeans at the track for engaging parts of said partitioned container forreleasing it to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its next'succeeding compartment shall align with said battery,

and an adjustably positioned abutment at each side of said trackeffective upon said rod at the lower end of that compartment forreleasing the filling supplies therein, and a filling supply actuatedmember at the entrance end of said battery for controlling said stopmeans.

8. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loo-m shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying iillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track, means at thelower end of each compartment for retaining filling supplies therein,stop means at the track for engaging parts of said partitioned containerfor releasing it to permit it to move along said track as a cornpartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment shall align with said battery, other meanseffective upon said means at the lower end of that compartment forreleasing the filling supplies therein, and means for controlling saidstop means which comprises a cam, a feeler member for sensing presenceof a filling package at the entrance of said battery and a means foraffecting said feeler and cam to render the stop means ineffective uponnonpresence of filling at the battery entrance.

9. In com-bination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track, means at thelower end of each compartment for retaining lilling supplies therein,stop means at the track for engaging parts of said partitioned containerfor releasing it to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment shall align with said battery, other meanseffective upon said means at the lower end of that compartment forreleasing the filling supplies therein, and means for controlling saidstop means which comprises a cam, a feeler member for sensing presenceof a filling package at the entrance of said battery and a counterweightfor raising said feeler so that the cam may permit the stoppmeans torelease the container.

l0. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track and stop meansat the track for engaging parts of said partitioned container forreleasing vit to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment aligns with said battery, and means lresponsiveto filling at the battery entrance for controlling said stop means andother track means for retiring said filling contain-er after all fillingtherein has been exhausted.

1l. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track and stop meansat the track for engaging parts of said partitioned container forreleasing it to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment aligns with said battery, and means responsive tofilling at the battery entrance for controlling said stop means andother track means for retiring said filling container after all fillingtherein has been exhausted which comprises a rearwardly inclined trackparallel to the track first mentioned, and a laterally extending trackfrom the first to the second track. i

l2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1l wherein each said track is inclinedat an angle such that, while the loom is in operation, the track anglein combination with the vibration of the loom will advance the containerslowly.

13. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from which the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises a partitioned container, aninclined supporting track the angle of inclination of which is such thatin combination with the natural vibration ofthe loom the container willmove slowly down the track, and stop means at the track for engagingsaid partitioned container to stop it so its compartments align with thebattery as successive compartments become empty, and means responsive tothe presence of a filling package at the entrance portion of saidbattery forl controlling the said stop means.

14. In combination with a loom having a shuttle, a battery for holding aplurality of filling packages from Vwhich the loom shuttle isperiodically replenished, means v for automatically supplying fillingpackages to said battery which comprises an inclined supporting track, apartitioned container movable by gravity along said track and stop meansat the track for engaging parts of said partitioned container forreleasing it to permit it to move along said track as a compartmentbecomes empty and to stop the container in a position so that its nextsucceeding compartment aligns with the battery, means responsive tolling at the battery entrance for controlling said stop means, and othertrack means for retiring said filling container after all fillingtherein has been exhausted, said track means having such angle ofinclination that in combination with the natural vibration of the loomthe container will move slowly down the track.

l5. A bobbin container for use in replenishing a loom battery whichcomprises side and end members, bobbin guide means for dividing saidcontainer into compartments, and releasable means for retaining bobbinsin each compartment which includes slots in said side mernbers and a rodextending from side to side and movable in said slots from a positionblocking the exit of bobbins from the compartment to one in whichbobbins may fall from thecompartment without restraint.

16. A bobbin container for use in replenishing a loom battery whichcomprises side and end members, bobbin guide means for dividing saidcontainer into compartments, and releasable means for retaining bobbinsin each compartment which includes inclined slotsin said side membersand a rod extending across the compartment and being guided in saidslots at its ends, said rod aligning substantially'with the row ofbobbins in a compartment when in the lower ends of the slots, butoiering no restraint to the bobbins dropping from a compartment whenmoved to the opposite ends of the slots.

l7. A bobbin container for use in replenishing a loom battery whichcomprises side and end members, bobbin guide means comprised as channelsin which the bobbin ends are guided, said channels being verticallydisposed to divide the container into compartments,and releasable meansfor retaining bobbins in each compartment which includes slots in saidside members'and a rod extending from side to side and movable in saidslots from a position blocking the exit of bobbins from the compartmentto one in which bobbins are free to fall from the compartment.

yNo references cited.

